Few tribute acts manage to capture the essence of their source material without veering into mere impersonation, but Don't Change – Ultimate INXS has mastered that delicate balance.
Fronted by Blair Dwyer, the band has carved out a name for itself as the premier INXS live experience, celebrating the music without resorting to wigs, costumes, or gimmicks. Instead, they channel the energy, charisma, and raw musical power that made INXS one of Australia's most iconic rock bands.When Don't Change returns to Adelaide Fringe for their third headline show at Hindley Street Music Hall, it won't just be another gig – it'll be a homecoming of sorts. "We just seem to do so well in Adelaide," Dwyer says.
"It's a different feeling altogether. It's like you come out and you're playing to your best mates. People have come to multiple shows, and when you go out, it's like their arms are already open for you – it's a lovely, warm hug."
Since forming, Don't Change has aimed to set itself apart from other tribute acts. While some cover bands lean heavily into impersonation – tight pants, wigs, and replica outfits – Don't Change takes a different approach. "We've always avoided that angle," Dwyer explains. "I think our respect for INXS is why you won't see us trying to impersonate them. We just try to emulate what they would have given off at a live show."
Their philosophy is simple but effective: if INXS in its original form had never ended, what would their shows look like today? That's the experience Don't Change strives to create.
"We feel extremely privileged because we've got this catalog of music that we can perform to audiences that love it; and they really hope you're good. When they come to the show and find out it's not bad, they're pleasantly surprised," he laughs.
From their high-energy delivery to their ever-evolving set lists, Don't Change aims to give fans more than just a greatest-hits package. "Every single time we play a show, it's a different set list," Dwyer says.
"Last count, we've performed 95 INXS songs. There's a handful we play every night – you know which ones they are. But beyond that, we have about 20 slots a night that we can interchange. We want to surprise the fans with songs they never expected to hear."
Performing at a venue like Hindley Street Music Hall only enhances the experience. "It gives us the closest opportunity to replicate what you'd expect to have seen of INXS in 1997," Dwyer says. "The production, the rear screen visuals, the big stage – we use every part of the room. I tend to get a bit excited and end up doing some songs from the crowd. It just seems to happen every time."
However, while Don't Change goes to great lengths to capture the spirit of INXS, Dwyer is quick to note he isn't trying to be Michael Hutchence. "I try to make it clear early on that I don't think I'm Michael Hutchence.
"I wouldn't want people watching me going, 'Oh, he thinks he's Michael Hutchence'. I feel privileged to perform these songs, so I perform them like it's the last time I'm going to do them." Still, certain aspects of Hutchence's performance style are unavoidable. "The music makes you do it," Dwyer admits.
"I challenge anybody else to perform this music and not move like that. The hip thrusting, the snake hips – it just happens. More often than not, I'm just copying someone in the audience!"
With a career built around celebrating the legacy of INXS, Dwyer and the band have witnessed first hand the deep emotional connections fans have with the music. One of his more memorable moments happened just recently.
"A woman and her husband reached out to us requesting 'Beautiful Girl'. Their daughter had just passed away from a rare form of cancer," Dwyer explains. "It was their song for her when she was a baby, when she walked down the aisle, and they played it at her funeral.
"Performing it for them, knowing they were in the audience even though I had no idea where, was surreal – it's the closest I've come to bawling my eyes out on stage."
However, it's not just the somber moments that stick with him. "We've had bras thrown onstage, people rushing up to dance – it's all part of the fantasy, and no one crosses the line, it's all in fun."
When it comes to Dwyer's journey with Don't Change, it began somewhat unexpectedly. "I'd just come back from living in West Hollywood and decided I was going to have a 'yes year' – just say yes to everything. On January 2nd, I got a call asking if I wanted to audition for an INXS show. Every ounce of me wanted to say no, but I had to say yes."
After nailing the audition, he committed to ten shows. That was in 2018. Now, years later, Don't Change has played hundreds of shows across the country, with demand only growing.
It's a career Dwyer admits he might have manifested. "When I was a kid singing into a wooden spoon, I imagined playing to rooms full of people singing back to me. I might have left out the part where it had to be my own music," he laughs, "but I'm doing exactly what I dreamed of."
As the band prepares to take the stage at Hindley Street Music Hall once again, ahead of a run of east-coast shows March through to May, they know what to expect: an electric atmosphere, devoted fans, and a night that feels like stepping back into the golden era of INXS.
"We're just grateful to be able to do this," Dwyer says. "INXS left us with the ingredients to the world's best mud cake – our job is to not mess it up."
Don't Change – Ultimate INXS plays as part of Adelaide Fringe at Hindley Street Music Hall on 28 February.
Don't Change – Ultimate INXS 2025 Tour Dates
Fri 28 Feb - Adelaide Fringe @ Hindley Street Music HallSat 8 Mar - Wenty Leagues (Sydney)
Sat 15 Mar - The Bridge Hotel (Sydney)
Fri 28 Mar - York On Lilydale (Melbourne)
Sat 29 Mar - Chelsea Heights Hotel (Melbourne)
Sat 5 Apr - The Juniors Kingsford (Sydney)
Fri 2 May - Imperial Hotel (Sunshine Coast)
Sat 3 May - Eatons Hill Hotel (Brisbane)
Sun 4 May - Bribie Island Hotel (Brisbane)
Fri 9 May - Beer Deluxe (Albury)
Fri 16 May - Castle Hill RSL Club (Sydney)
Sat 31 May - Blacktown Workers (Sydney)
